Millsap has said he wants to go where he will be guaranteed to start as a PF.

I was thinking Indiana but supposedly he wants to stay and Indiana wants him.

Sign and trade Millsap for DD would be AWESOME.

Bryan needs to somehow get rid of Bargnani, DeRozan and Kleiza. If he brings back Millsap (J Smith will work, but I don't see it happening), a capable backup PG and a shooter (someone like Reddick or Korver) then I *might* consider extending him.

I actually found a negative comment about Memphis in all this. Not sure who this scout is, but he has a Popovich blunt-ness to him that I appreciate.

"These trades are absolutely terrible," a Western Conference scout said. "Gay is a young star. He has been used as Memphis' third option this season. They hardly ran any plays for him. Prince has been finished for two years. Speights complemented [Marc] Gasol and Randolph, which Davis doesn't. And Daye can't play dead."

"These trades are absolutely terrible," a Western Conference scout said. "Gay is a young star. He has been used as Memphis' third option this season. They hardly ran any plays for him. Prince has been finished for two years. Speights complemented [Marc] Gasol and Randolph, which Davis doesn't. And Daye can't play dead."

But nooooooo, he's their 1st option cuz he takes a lot of shots! [sarcasm]

Davis' numbers were destined to drop with Bargnani's arrival. That I'm sure of. He wouldn't have maintained his current pace.

And in Memphis, I don't see him getting more than 20 mpg (at best). I just can't see him establishing himself as anything more than a backup PF.

We FINALLY cashed in on an overvalued player.

Thats true, ED would not be getting the type of numbers he is currently getting once Andrea returns. I was just thinking with all the negative comments that from media about how bad this trade is for the Raptors that it should be pointed out that if we didn't move ED, we would have to pay him a sizeable contract to keep him, and have yet another PF signed long term.

I don't want to say we cashed in on an overvalued player because I reserve that line for getting anything in return for Andrea or Landry, but we definitely used an asset to get better. I gotta say it now that the Raptors need to be playing Ross even more minutes to close out the season, so he's ready to be our staring SF next season.

I actually found a negative comment about Memphis in all this. Not sure who this scout is, but he has a Popovich blunt-ness to him that I appreciate.

"These trades are absolutely terrible," a Western Conference scout said. "Gay is a young star. He has been used as Memphis' third option this season. They hardly ran any plays for him. Prince has been finished for two years. Speights complemented [Marc] Gasol and Randolph, which Davis doesn't. And Daye can't play dead."

That is certainly as solid an opinion as anyone else's, in my opinion!

The other thing to remember with all this cap killing talk is Gay only has 2 seasons remaining on current deal. I think it is blown out of proportion for a team that has limited trade assets they are willing to trade and has little to no chance at free agency.

Salary is one thing. Duplication is another.

Matt52 wrote:

Ross was an untouchable in the negotiations. I think that says it all.

DeRozan is odd man out. Problem I have saying that is I don't know if I think that is real or hope it is real.

At the cost of sounding like a broken record, DeRozan's extension sticks out a lot more than Gay's annual salary. Derozan (rookie deal) and Bargnani would've been attractive enough for many teams around the league.

Of note, DD got stripped / lost the ball last night at least 3 times including the last play prior to getting fouled under the basket.

#tradederozannow

ďThe saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.Ē - Martin Luther King

Best case scenario would be get a top 3 pick and then make the playoffs from here to eternity, no?

Touche. Sadly we aren't that bad. Realistic best case scenario? 9th. Pipe-Dream Best Case Scenario. Trade Bargnani for a lottery pick, get lucky in the lottery, win the top 2 picks and start a new dynasty.

I think it'll take at least 10-15 games for this Lowry-Gay dynamic to really develop together. We'll be in too big of a hole to start playing "catchup" in March.

I just hope Colangelo can eliminate some of the remaining roster redundancy (DeRozan, Fields, Anderson), and rid ourselves of Bargnani and Kleiza.

I agree that Bargnani and Anderson need to go by the deadline.

Kleiza could just as well be kept and then amnestied in the offseason.

DeRozan could also be kept and then traded in the offseason. I like Matt's idea of a S&T with Utah for Millsap, which would remove the uncertainty surrounding a trade for Millsap at the deadline.

I actually think Fields would be a good fit on this roster, assuming DeRozan, Anderson, Kleiza and Pietrus are all gone come the start of next year. A wing rotation of Gay, Ross and Fields would be pretty well balanced. A young wing, acquired either in trade, free agency or draft, could then slot into the 4th wing spot.

I actually think Fields would be a good fit on this roster, assuming DeRozan, Anderson, Kleiza and Pietrus are all gone come the start of next year. A wing rotation of Gay, Ross and Fields would be pretty well balanced. A young wing, acquired either in trade, free agency or draft, could then slot into the 4th wing spot.

I'd be fine with either Fields or Anderson as our backup SG/SF next season (although I'd prefer to rid ourselves of Fields' contract).

I'd be fine with either Fields or Anderson as our backup SG/SF next season (although I'd prefer to rid ourselves of Fields' contract).

How much do you think Anderson would demand to re-sign though? I'm expecting he'd want a raise of some sort, which would make the gap between their contracts suddently not so big. Fields is much younger and probably much less tradeable.

For me it makes sense to keep Fields and hope he continues to improve, while trading Anderson on a

How much do you think Anderson would demand to re-sign though? I'm expecting he'd want a raise of some sort, which would make the gap between their contracts suddently not so big. Fields is much younger and probably much less tradeable.

For me it makes sense to keep Fields and hope he continues to improve, while trading Anderson on a

Good question. I would assume Anderson couldn't demand Fields' $6 million, but who knows.

All of these teams could hand the starting PF to Millsap from day 1 except Dallas. But Dallas does have the Cuban Effect. If you were a player, would you rather play for an owner who'd do anything to win no matter the cost or a more traditional win within these constraints? Don't count out Dallas just because Dirk is the starter.

Another potential option
Indiana: Sign and trade - Granger for Millsap, letting David West walk in free agency

In terms of desirability, I'd put the Raps ahead of Charlotte, Detroit and Milwaukee. I'd say Philly is highly unlikely and Cleveland and Dallas as slightly more attractive options for Millsap.

Bottom line, even with the landscape changing between now and the off-season, the Raps will have their work cut out for them.

All of these teams could hand the starting PF to Millsap from day 1 except Dallas. But Dallas does have the Cuban Effect. If you were a player, would you rather play for an owner who'd do anything to win no matter the cost or a more traditional win within these constraints? Don't count out Dallas just because Dirk is the starter.

Another potential option
Indiana: Sign and trade - Granger for Millsap, letting David West walk in free agency

In terms of desirability, I'd put the Raps ahead of Charlotte, Detroit and Milwaukee. I'd say Philly is highly unlikely and Cleveland and Dallas as slightly more attractive options for Millsap.

Bottom line, even with the landscape changing between now and the off-season, the Raps will have their work cut out for them.

Just going off that list, I would think that Toronto and Cleveland would be the top 2 destinations, given the opportunity and direction the teams are headed. Personally I'd give the nod to Toronto, but who knows what his thought process is. A lineup with Gay & Lowry, along with youngsters like Valanciunas, Ross & possibly DeRozan, is the start of a very good, young, talented team.